The
Pitch 2009, which Business Matters are proud to be one of the sponsors, will see small business owners across the UK pitching to
experts for the chance to win a collection of business support prizes
worth £50,000.
Among the high profile names
backing the initiative is Doug Richard, serial entrepreneur and former
panellist on the BBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den. Richard launched his School for Startups last year and the scheme has already helped more than 1,000 budding entrepreneurs through a series of “Start your own business” courses across the UK. As part of the initiative, Richard will provide one-on-one mentoring to the overall winner.
He says: “The Pitch is an
exciting programme that highlights great entrepreneurial talent with a
real prize at the end. I think it is just the kind of contest we need
to help start-ups gain exposure and support.”
Lord Madelson, has also said of The Pitch ‘it offers an excellent opportunity for
innovative businesses to access the advice and support available from
fellow business leaders and other support organisations.’
Also sharing his expertise with
contestants at the final will be Tim Campbell, the first person to win
a job working for Sir Alan Sugar on TV programme The Apprentice.
Since leaving his job with Sir
Alan, Campbell has set up The Bright Ideas Trust, a registered charity
which helps young people aged 16-30 to set up and run successful
businesses.
Then there’s entrepreneur and philanthropist Deidre Bounds. Bounds
set up ethical travel business i-to-i.com in 1994 before selling it to
First Choice Travel for £20m.
Some of the other prizes making up the £50,000 price fund, which also include a full page interview in Business Matters are:
Mentoring from Doug Richard courtesy of Doug Richard’s School for Startups
How
about this for a money can’t buy prize? Our overall winner will attend
a one-on-one half-day session with serial entrepreneur and former
Dragons’ Den panellist Doug Richard. Doug is also a judge at The Pitch
2009 grand final.
Get the inside track on what investors want to know
The
Pitch 2009 champion will take part in a one-on-one session with Angels
Den co-founder Bill Morrow. Angels Den is an online community which
connects entrepreneurs with business angels who have real money to
invest!
Website consultancy services courtesy of Sift Groups
Sift
Groups, an online community solutions provider established in 1996,
will provide our winner with in-depth consultancy services covering
areas including web marketing and sales and how to build an online
community around your business.
Market research services courtesy of Trends Research
How
well do you know your customers? Trends Research will conduct in-depth
research to help our winner discover whether their product or service
is hitting the right market and gather important feedback on how to
beat their competitors.
A three-month public relations campaign courtesy of 10 Yetis
Securing
press coverage for their business is hugely beneficial for any
entrepreneur so to spread the word about our winner, 10 Yetis, which
regularly secures coverage for clients in major national and regional
publications, will put together a three-month PR campaign.
For your chance to enter and get your hands on the prizes, visit The Pitch 2009.
